People Just Don't Take Hearing Protection Serious

[jjflyman]

Interesting thing happened yesterday. I had a car tire that had a nail in it, so I took it to Discount Tire for a repair.

As I waited in the lobby, I could see through the glass all the young guys working in the tire bays. I could hear all the noise that was going on in the work area. Air tools, impact wrenches, music playing, horns honking, guys yelling, tools falling on the cement.

I noticed all 5 of the workers had on safety glasses, but no one had any ear protection in, not a single one. I just thought how nobody takes ear protection serious.

Anyway, just thought it was interesting.

 

[fishbone]

Interesting thing happened yesterday. I had a car tire that had a nail in it, so I took it to Discount Tire for a repair.

As I waited in the lobby, I could see through the glass all the young guys working in the tire bays. I could hear all the noise that was going on in the work area. Air tools, impact wrenches, music playing, horns honking, guys yelling, tools falling on the cement.

I noticed all 5 of the workers had on safety glasses, but no one had any ear protection in, not a single one. I just thought how nobody takes ear protection serious.

Anyway, just thought it was interesting.

Trust me some of them will have hearing loss and possibly get tinnitus in the future. It's the lack of education that causes people, to eventually get tinnitus and make it worst. Hearing protection and education on it, in this day and age should be everywhere and it's a serious issue now more than ever.... Everything is way louder now and I hope folks just understand...that they need to protect their ears...

30 years ago, there was no education at all. These days there are some awareness, but we need way more to reach our youth. I still remember my low hiss/tone sound, when I got it and if i was educated on just how bad loud sounds are...I would have had, such a lower lower volume and intensity.

It is what it is, I just hope more awareness gets out there

 

[MuffinMan]

Because ENTs don't make any awareness campaigns, T Patients are profitable for them, why else do we see awareness campaigns about breast cancer, obesity, smoking, and flu? Shame on the ENTs for never making any awareness campaigns.

 

[Emperor-Drax]

Because ear care is usually regarded as a girly, feminine thing among tradie, working class, blokey-bloke types.

"Ear plugs?! I'm not puttin' them gay shit in me ears!"

 

[PDodge]

Ya I didn't and I'm an idiot for it

 

[Deamon22]

It's more a problem that people don't know the consequences. I mean, i kind of heard about tinnitus and i knew maybe i should not press my ears against speakers in the club, but other than that i had absolutely zero idea about hearing loss and this stuff. No one ever told me.
But of course my own ignorance is no excuse. In my opinion every festival and club needs to have big warning signs and give out earplugs for free (which probably wouldn't help either because most people can't insert plugs correctly)

 

[Emperor-Drax]

It's more a problem that people don't know the consequences. I mean, i kind of heard about tinnitus and i knew maybe i should not press my ears against speakers in the club, but other than that i had absolutely zero idea about hearing loss and this stuff. No one ever told me.
But of course my own ignorance is no excuse. In my opinion every festival and club needs to have big warning signs and give out earplugs for free (which probably wouldn't help either because most people can't insert plugs correctly)

We had a fairly pressing awareness campaign in Australia when I was in high school in the late 1990s. Actually I don't think it was a "campaign" per se, rather it was just Troy McClure style video where they warned about the effects of loud noise and hearing loss, and repeated the phrase "if you lose it, it won't come back", to which the other kids twisted that to mean your penis with the variation "if you lose it, it won't grow back".

Of course, all the awareness campaigns in the world won't protect you from unexpected accidents, which are usually out of your control.

 

[Sam Bridge]

Because they don't know about hearing problems or tinnitus. I was the same, had never heard of it.

 

[Deamon22]

@Emperor-Drax That is cool, i don't think i have ever seen awareness around here about hearing loss. Even a friend of mine who works in the hearing aids business knows next to nothing about the dangers, he goes to clubs without protection (even after i told him repeatedly to wear at least earplugs).

I have seen just a few concerts my whole life, but i recall them giving out hearing protection. I still remember how i just tried to push them in directly into my ears and then wondered why i felt not much of a difference

 

[Sam Bridge]

@Emperor-Drax
I have seen just a few concerts my whole life, but i recall them giving out hearing protection. I still remember how i just tried to push them in directly into my ears and then wondered why i felt not much of a difference

Isn't that what your supposed to do with them lol?

 

[Emperor-Drax]

The only concerts I've been to are orchestral ones at the Sydney Opera House. They're loudish but not stupid loud.

 

[Deamon22]

The only concerts I've been to are orchestral ones at the Sydney Opera House. They're loudish but not stupid loud.

Off topic, i was there in 2015, road trip from Sidney to Cairns=)

 

[Wolfears]

Interesting thing happened yesterday. I had a car tire that had a nail in it, so I took it to Discount Tire for a repair.

As I waited in the lobby, I could see through the glass all the young guys working in the tire bays. I could hear all the noise that was going on in the work area. Air tools, impact wrenches, music playing, horns honking, guys yelling, tools falling on the cement.

I noticed all 5 of the workers had on safety glasses, but no one had any ear protection in, not a single one. I just thought how nobody takes ear protection serious.

Anyway, just thought it was interesting.

If they are like most, they never heard of Tinnitus and they don't really consider hearing loss a big deal.

Even if you told them, they would probably think you are nuts...
Nobody in their right mind would suspect, that their own head can be turned into a permanent CIA style torture chamber with no way out, except for one.
They would simply not be able to understand, that something this horrid is even possible.

 

[Deamon22]

Isn't that what your supposed to do with them lol?

Well, not really, you have to first roll them between your fingers really tight, pull your ear backwards with your free hand, push them in until they are behind your tragus and then keep your finger on them for like 20-30 seconds (if you want full protection). It took me a bit to do it consistently, it sure wasn't something i figured out on my own.


Edit: I am talking about foam earplugs, custom made or musician plugs are of course easier to insert=)

 

[Sam Bridge]

Well, not really, you have to first roll them between your fingers really tight, pull your ear backwards with your free hand, push them in until they are behind your tragus and then keep your finger on them for like 20-30 seconds (if you want full protection). It took me a bit to do it consistently, it sure wasn't something i figured out on my own.


Edit: I am talking about foam earplugs, custom made or musician plugs are of course easier to insert=)

Oooh ok, I have never tried foam plugs, sounds complicated!

 

[Deamon22]

Oooh ok, I have never tried foam plugs, sounds complicated!

It just takes a few tries until you get the hang of it. But i think they provide the best protection.

 

[Jack Straw]

The reason why people don't take it seriously is because it happens slowly over time and people don't really notice they are going deaf. Also, people will only care once it is too late unfortunately.